RIC physical education class partners with local YMCA

Members of RIC's PED 205 class were taught Zumba by a Cranston YMCA staff member on Oct. 1 (Photo: Kristen Pepin).

Kristen Pepin, assistant professor of physical education, will engage her students in a physical fitness training initiative through a partnership with the Cranston YMCA this fall.

For the months of October and November, 39 students enrolled in sections one and two of PED 205 – Conditioning for Personal Fitness – will participate in classes taught by YMCA instructors both on campus and at the Cranston facility.

“The students are looking forward to reinforcing concepts discussed in class with real-life applications. The partnership exposes students to various opportunities available to them within the community that promote fitness and overall wellbeing,” Pepin said.

The first of eight sessions took place on Oct. 1, when a YMCA staff member visited RIC to teach students Zumba, a Latin-inspired dance workout system. Other fitness classes will include spin, yoga and boot camp.

The goal of PED 205 is for students to develop personal fitness by participating in these sorts of physical activities, as well as develop the knowledge and skills to design their own fitness programs, said Liz Garofalo, the coordinator of community service learning at FSEHD.

“This partnership with the PED 205 class at RIC is very exciting for the Cranston YMCA,” said Katie Martins, a Cranston YMCA staff member. “It has been beneficial for our instructors to be able to showcase their skills in an arena other then the YMCA and step outside the box to provide insight on healthy living to the RIC students.”

Both Pepin and Martins expressed their hope that the collaboration would continue in the future and lead to possible internship opportunities for RIC students.

For more information, contact Kristen Pepin at (401) 456-8046 or kpepin@ric.edu.